泡打粉
pàodǎfěn
The English phrase "baking powder" is translated into Chinese as 泡打粉 (pàodǎfěn). Wiktionary also lists 發酵粉 / 发酵粉 (fājiàofěn) and 焙粉 (bèifěn).
Meaning: dry leavening agent used in baking (noun)
Ways to say it
| Chinese | Romanization (Wiktionary) |
|---|---|
| 泡打粉 | pàodǎfěn |
| 發酵粉 / 发酵粉 | fājiàofěn |
| 焙粉 | bèifěn |
| 發粉 / 发粉 | fāfěn |
| 起子 | qǐzi |
泡打粉 is the most precise term to use when following a Western-style baking recipe that requires chemical leavening.
What does it mean word for word?
The term 泡打粉 is composed of 泡 (pào, to bubble/soak), 打 (dǎ, to hit/beat) and 粉 (fěn, powder).
Which one should you use?
泡打粉 specifically refers to baking powder, whereas 发酵粉 is a more general term for leavening agents or yeast-based ferments.
How do you pronounce it?
pàodǎfěn
Did you know?
- Unlike English, where 'baking' describes the use, the Chinese term 泡打粉 focuses almost entirely on the mechanical reaction of bubbling and beating.
- Because chemical leavening is a relatively recent addition to Chinese cuisine, some older cookbooks use 發酵粉 (fāxiào fěn) for both yeast and baking powder, which can lead to recipe disasters.
- The character 打 (dǎ) is one of the most versatile words in Chinese, meaning 'to hit' in this context but also 'to call' a phone or 'to play' a sport.
Examples in context
- 在这个食谱中，你需要加入一茶匙的发酵粉。In this recipe, you need to add a teaspoon of baking powder.
- 我忘记买发酵粉了，请帮我去买一包吧。I forgot to buy baking powder, please help me get a pack.
- 我带了泡打粉，我们可以一起来做蛋糕。I brought baking powder, let's make a cake together.
- 这个蛋糕配方需要两勺泡打粉。This cake recipe requires two tablespoons of baking powder.
- 你知道哪里可以买到好的泡打粉吗？Do you know where I can buy good baking powder?
- 請給我一包泡打粉。Qǐng gěi wǒ yī bāo pàodǎfěn.Please give me a packet of baking powder.
- 這袋泡打粉還沒過期。Zhè dài pàodǎfěn hái méi guòqī.This bag of baking powder hasn't expired yet.
- 超市裡沒有賣泡打粉。Chāoshì lǐ méiyǒu mài pàodǎfěn.The supermarket doesn't sell baking powder.
Example conversation
A couple is checking their ingredients while preparing to bake a cake.
- 雨婷 Yuting浩然，我們還有泡打粉嗎？Hàorán, wǒmen hái yǒu pàodǎfěn ma?Haoran, do we still have baking powder?
- 浩然 Haoran我找了一下，好像沒了。Wǒ zhǎo le yīxià, hǎoxiàng méi le.I looked for it, and it seems we've run out.
- 雨婷 Yuting那我要去買一包。Nà wǒ yào qù mǎi yī bāo.Then I need to go buy a packet.
- 浩然 Haoran好，我陪妳一起去。Hǎo, wǒ péi nǐ yīqǐ qù.Okay, I will go with you.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “baking powder” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
